Portable building



1962 F. E. BIGELOW, JR 3,069,224

PORTABLE BUILDING Filed Aug. 21, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. /0 l034 ATTORNEY 1962 F. E. BIGELOW, JR 3,069,224

PORTABLE BUILDING INVENTOR.

ArrakMs-y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 21, 1959 nited States Patent@fihce aesazz-t Patented Dec. 18, 1962 3,069,224 PORTABLE BUILDIN FloydE. Bigelow, Jr., P.O. Box 7064, Houston, Tex. Filed Aug. 21, 1959, Ser.,N-t$35,21'1 4 (Ilaims. (Cl. 20--2) This invention rela'tes to a portablebuilding, and more particularly to a building structure which may bedisassembled and formed into a compact package for transportation andwhich is easily assembled and erected.

The invention has for an important object the provision of a buildingwhich is made up of unitary walls, a floor or base unit and a unitaryroof structure, the walls being adapted to be placed one upon another onthe floor, and the roof and floor being constructed to enclose the wallsto form a unitary package.

Another object of the invention is to provide a building havingdetachable walls floor and roof, and which is capable of use as aseparate unit or which may be combined with other such units to form amulti-unit structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a build ing of unitarydesign having detachable walls, floor and roof, and embodying means forassembling and connecttogether a number of such buildings to form astructure of larger size.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a joint structurefor buildings of the type having detachable walls, fioor and roof,whereby several such buildings may be connected together in end to endor side by side relation with the facing, adjacent walls removed to forma unitary structure of larger size;

A further object of the invention is to provide a weather tight,detachable joint structure for portable buildings of the type havingdetachable walls, floor and roof whereby a number of such buildings maybe connected together toforrn a structure of larger dimensions.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a joint structurefor connecting together buildings of the type having detachable wallsand a detachable roof of inverted tray shape adapted to be placed overthe upper edges of the walls with the side portions or the roofextending downwardly exterior-1y of the upper margins of the walls,which joint structure embodies an elongated member of'channei shape,adapted to be placed in an up wardly opening position between the roofsof two such buildings placed in side by side relation, with the facing,

adjacent walls of the building removed andth'e adjacent side portions ofthe roots extending downwardly inside of the sides of the channel to'form a water shedding, trough like connection between the roofs.

A further object of the invention is to provide a joint structure foruse in connecting together buildings of the t-ypehaving detachable wallsand a detachable roof of inverted tray like shape, which joint structureembodie s an elongated member of channel shape whose sides are adaptedto be inserted beneath the adjacent downwardly extendihgzside'pdrtionsof'the roofs of two such buildings placed in side by side or end toendrelation with the facing adjacent walls removed to form anupwardly'opening trough between the roofs, and side members adapted to be placedbetween adjacent walls of the buildings in overlapping relation thereto,said channel having end poitio'ns disposed exteriorly of and in'overlapping relation: to" said adjacent walls and the upper end portionso'i'said side members.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a joint structurefor connecting together buildings of the type mentioned which is easilyapplied and. removed and which forms a strong and weather tightconnection.

I The above and other important objects and'advantages of theinventionmay best beunderstoodfrom the following detailed description,constituting a specification of the same, when considered in conjunctionwith the annexed drawings, wherein FIGURE 1 is" a perspective view er apreferred embodirifent of the invention showing the manner in which theunitary buildings are connected together by the dcfachable jointstructure of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary, perspective view, on a somewhat enlargedscale, showing details of the structure of the detachable joint and themanner in which the same is applied in connecting together the buildingsof the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of FIGURE2, looking in the direction indicated'by the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side View on a somewhat enlarged scale of thedetachable joint structure of the invention.

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, on an enlarged scale,showing structural details of the upper portion of the detachable jointof the invention and the internal structures of the roofs of thebuildings connected thereby; and

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary perspective view, on an enlarged scale showingend portions of the channel member and side member of the joint of theinvention and the manner in which the members are shaped for cooperationin assembling the joint.

Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, the invention isdisclosed herein in connection with portable buildings of the typehaving detachable side and end walls 10 and 12, which may be assembledwith a floor or base 14, preferably of rectangular shape, and adetachable roof 16 which is of, inverted tray shape having side portions18 which are adapted to be positioned exteriorly of the upper marginalportions of the walls when the building is assembled.

The portable building of the invention is preferably constructed topermit the walls 10 and 12 to be detached from the floor or base 14 andlaid one upon another on top of the door, and the roof 16 is constructedso that the side portions 13 thereof will surround the walls to enclosethe same, so that the roof and floor may serve to form a box in whichthe remaining parts of the building will be enclosed for transportationas a complete unit to be assembled at any desired location.

The walls 10 and 12 are preferably of unitary construction, dimensionedto fit within the tray like roof when detached, and to permit the roofto be placed over the upper edges of the walls when the walls areerected, with the sides of the roof disposed exteriorly of the walls tohold the walls against spreading apart and to form a weather tightstructure. The floor or base 14 is constructed and dimensioned to allowthe walls to be placed in superposed relation thereon when the walls aredetached and to form the bottom of the box-like enclosure of which theroof forms the sides and top when the building is dismanticd" and formedinto a compact assemblage.

The walls It] and IZmay be grooved or otherwise interfitted or providedwith suitable means such as vertically disposed angle members, or thelike, at the corners of the building to form a weather tight structureand are secured to the floor and to each other in any convenient mannerto permit the walls to be easily erected or disassembled.

For the purpose of permitting a number of buildings of this type to beassembled to provide a building of larger size, the buildings areconstructed of the same width or length, so that one wall of two suchbuildings may be removed and the buildings placed with their open sidestogether to form a structurehaving twice the space of a single building.In this manner a number of such buildings may be assembled and connectedtogether to provide a structure of any desired size.

For the purpose of forming a strong and weather tight detachableconnection between the buildings when assembled, the joint structure ofthe invention embodies a roof connector member 2'1 in the form of anelongated, channel-shaped member, adapted to be placed in a horizontal,upwardly opening position with the sides 22 thereof extending upwardlyinteriorly of the adjacent side portions 18 of the roofs 16 of twoadjacent buildings, to form an upwardly opening trough or gutter 24between the roots.

The connector member 20 is formed at each end with outturned sideflanges 26 and a downturned bottom flange 28 which has a centrallylocated slot 30 whose lower end is open.

Side connector elements 32 are also provided which are positionedvertically between the adjacent vertical margins of adjacent walls ofthe buildings and extend from the floor 14 to the roof connector member20. Each of these side connector elements is formed with a longitudi nalgroove 34 along each side into which the edge of the adjacent wall isfitted, and has at its upper end an upwardly opening, central notch 36into which the roof connector member 20 fits. The external face of theside connector element is also cut away as best seen at 38 in FIGURE 6to receive the end flanges '26 and 28 of the roof connector element, sothat these flanges lie flush with the outer face of the side connectorelement when the parts are assembled. Each side connector element isprovided with an opening 40, through which a fastening element, such asa bolt 42 provided with a wing nut 44 may be extended through the slot30.

The upper ends of the side connector elements 32 are bevelled at thecorners as seen at 46 for wedging engagement with the internal bevelledfaces 48 of blocks 50 positioned Within the roofs 16 whereby the roofswill be wedgingly connected together when the parts are assembled asbest seen in FIGURE 5.

The side connector elements and the adjacent Walls may be releasablysecured together by suitable means such as the hooks 52 pivotallycarried by the walls and which hook over bolts 54 on the elements andhaving provided with wing nuts 56. At their lower ends the sideconnector elements may be coextensive with the walls of the buildingswhich may be interfitted with the floor 14 in any desired manner topermit the parts to be easily assembled and disassembled to provide aweathertight connection.

In assembling and connecting the buildings by the use of the jointstructure of the invention, two of the buildings are erected byassembling three walls of each building on the floor thereof, the wallsbeing secured together at the corners by suitable fastenings, such asbolts, not shown, and the buildings are then placed with the open sidesin facing relation. The side connector elements 32 are then placedbetween the vertical margins of the adjacent side walls of the buildingsand secured thereto by the hooks 52. With the side walls thus connectedtogether by the side connector elements, the roof connector member 20 isthen placed in position by inserting the channel in the upwardly openingend notches 36 of the side connector elements with the flanges 26 and 28positioned in the external recesses 38 of the elements, the bolts 42being extended through openings 40 and slots 30 to secure the roofconnector member in place.

The roofs 16 are then placed in position over the upper edges of thewalls, the skirt formed by the side portions of the roofs extendingdownwardly, exteriorly over the upper edges of the walls to form aweathertight structure. The side portions of the roofs will then alsoextend downwardly inside of the channel of the roof connector memher andexteriorly of the end flanges 26 and 28 and exteriorly of the sideconnector elements 32, to completely enclose the upper marginal portionsof the Walls.

When the roofs are thus positioned on the walls the 4 bevelled faces 48of the internal blocks 50 in the roofs will be in wedging engagementwith the bevelled faces 4 6 on the upper ends of the side connectorelements 32 to further hold the buildings connected together.

In disassembling the structure, the roofs may first be lifted off, theroof connector member 20 removed, the side connector elements 32 beingthereafter disconnected and the walls detached. The Walls may then beplaced one upon another on the floors 14 to form. stacks and theremaining parts of the structures placed in the stacks. Ni 1 the partsthus arranged the roofs may be lowered over the stacks to enclose thesame and secure to the floors in any convenient manner to form compactassemblages ready for transportation.

It will thus be apparent that the invention provides a portable buildingwhich may be formed into a compact assemblage for transportation andwhich includes a joint structure by which any number of such buildingsmay be connected together to form structures of larger capacity.

The invention is disclosed herein in connection with a certain specificembodiment of the same, but it will be understood that this is intendedby way of illustration only, and that various changes can be made in theconstruction and arrangement of the parts, within the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus clearly shown and described the invention, what is claimedas new and desired to secured by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with rectangular buildings placed in juxtaposedrelation with the adjacent facing walls of the buildings removed to forma rectangular enclosure, each of said buildings having a demountableroof of inverted rectangular tray shape Whose sides are positioned inexternal overlying relation to the upper marginal portions of the wallsof the building, of means for connecting the buildings togethercomprising a connector member of channel shape located in an upwardlyopening position with the sides of the channel disposed inwardly of theadjacent sides of the roofs and having outturned end flanges having edgeportions positioned in abutting relation to the upper edge portions ofadjacent walls of the buildings and vertically extending connectorelements positioned in overlapping relation to adjacent side margins ofsaid adjacent side walls and said end flanges.

2. The combination with rectangular buildings placed in juxtaposedrelation with the adjacent facing walls of the buildings removed to forma rectangular enclosure, each of said buildings having a demountableroof of inverted rectangular tray shape whose sides are positioned inexternal overlying relation to the upper marginal portions of the wallsof the building, of means for connecting the buildings togethercomprising a connector member of channel shape located in an upwardlyopening position with the sides of the channel disposed inwardly of theadjacent sides of the roofs and having outturned end flanges having edgeportions positioned in abutting relation to the upper edge portions ofadjacent walls of the buildings and also having downturned end flanges,and vertically extending connector elements adapted to be positioned inoverlapping relation to adjacent side margins of said adjacent sidewalls and said flanges.

' 3. The combination with rectangular buildings placed in juxtaposedrelation with the adjacent facing walls of the buildings removed to forma rectangular enclosure, each of said buildings having a demountableroof of invertcd rectangular tray shape whose sides are positioned inexternal overlying relation to the upper marginal portions of the wallsof the building, of means for connecting the buildings togethercomprising a connector member of channel shape located in an upwardlyopening position with the sides of the channel disposed inwardly of theadjacent sides of the roofs and having outturned end flanges having edgeportions positioned in abutting relation to the upper edge portions ofadjacent walls of the buildings and also having downturned end flanges,and

vertically extending connector elements positioned in overlappingrelation to adjacent side margins of said adjacent side walls and saidflanges, each of said connector elements having an upper end notchshaped to fit exteriorly over the bottom and sides of said connectormember.

4. The combination with rectangular buildings placed in juxtaposedrelation with the adjacent facing walls of the buildings removed to forma rectangular enclosure, each of said buildings having 'a demountableroof of inverted rectangular tray shape whose sides are positioned inexternal overlying relation to the upper marginal portions of the wallsof the building, of means for connecting the buildings togethercomprising a connector member of channel shape located in an upwardlyopening position with the sides of the channel disposed inwardly of theadjacent sides of the roofs and having outturned end flanges having edgeportions positioned in abutting relation to the upper edge portions ofadjacent walls of the buildings and also having downturned end flanges,

and vertically extending connector elements positioned in overlappingrelation to adjacent side margins of said adjacent side walls and saidflanges, each of said connecltor elements having an upper end portionwhich is cut away to fit exteriorly over the bottom and sides of saidconnector, the inner faces of said flanges being positioned in contactwith the outer faces of the connector elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,007,754 Tin-sley Nov. 7, 1911 1,644,450 Russell Oct. 4, 1927 1,650,949Mather Nov. 29, 1927 2,089,058 Harley Aug. 3, 1937 2,706,313 RadmlanApr. 19, 1955 2,755,517 Sickel July 24, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 676,997Great Britain Aug. 6, 1952

1. THE COMBINATION WITH RECTANGULAR BUILDINGS PLACED IN JUXTAPOSEDRELATION WITH THE ADJACENT FACING WALLS OF THE BUILDINGS REMOVED TO FORMA RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE, EACH OF SAID BUILDINGS HAVING A DEMOUNTABLEROOF OF INVERTED RECTANGULAR TRAY SHAPE WHOSE SIDES ARE POSITIONED INEXTERNAL OVERLYING RELATION TO THE UPPER MARGINAL PORTONS OF THE WALLSOF THE BUILDING, OF MEANS FOR CONNECTING THE BUILDINGS TOGETHERCOMPRISING A CONNECTOR MEMBER OF CHANNEL SHAPE LOCATED IN AN UPWARDLYOPENING POSITON WITH THE SIDES OF THE CHANNEL DISPOSED INWARDLY OF THEADJACENT SIDES OF THE ROOFS AND HAVING OUTTURNED END FLANGES HAVING EDGEPORTIONS POSITIONED IN ABUTTING RELATION TO THE UPPER EDGE PORTIONS OFADJACENT WALLS OF THE BUILDINGS AND VERTICALLY EXTENDING CONNECTORELEMENTS